Cherkesogai
Encyclopedia
Cherkesogai or Circassian Armenians ( cherkezahayer; ) are ethnic Armenians
who inhabit Russia
's Krasnodar Krai
and Republic of Adyghea since the end of 15th century that spoke the Adyghe language
(currcently, most of them speak Russian as their first language), apart from other Armenians living in the region. They reside mostly in the cities of Armavir and Maykop
. Total number of Cherkosogai Armenians is about 50 thousand people (2008 estimation). According to Russian 2002 Census
230 Armenians speak Adyghe language
and 222 speak Kabardian language
as native.
. Over time, North Caucasus
and Transcaucasus becomes an important and sometimes compact center of Armenian settlement. The impetus for the emigration of Armenians from their historical homeland. It was believed that the majority of Armenians emigrated to the Kuban
in the 15th century from Crimea
and where finally formed a vassal of Turkish Crimean Khanate
and living conditions prevailing there other Christians (Greeks
, Armenians
, Crimean Germans) have deteriorated sharply. According to some sources, 1475, when the Turks
finally seized control up to the Genoese of the Catholic and Orthodox Principality of Theodoro
and began to exterminate the civilian population, Armenians began to move actively to the Ukraine
, Moldova
and Poland
. Some Armenians found refuge among the Circassians and Abkhazians. Armenians settlers, having lived in the mountains for 300 years, picked up the language, manners, customs, particularly of life, the entire way of life of Circassians, among whom they settled, but have retained their ethnic identity and Christian faith - the Armenian Apostolic
, close to the Russian Orthodox Church
. As a result of the interpenetration of the two cultures formed a completely new ethnic group of Cherkosogai.
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
who inhabit Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
's Krasnodar Krai
Krasnodar Krai
-External links:* **...
and Republic of Adyghea since the end of 15th century that spoke the Adyghe language
Adyghe language
Adyghe language , also known as West Circassian , is one of the two official languages of the Republic of Adygea in the Russian Federation, the other being Russian. It is spoken by various tribes of the Adyghe people: Abzekh, Adamey, Bzhedugh; Hatukuay, Kemirgoy, Makhosh; Natekuay, Shapsigh; Zhane,...
(currcently, most of them speak Russian as their first language), apart from other Armenians living in the region. They reside mostly in the cities of Armavir and Maykop
Maykop
Maykop is the capital city of the Republic of Adygea, Russia, located on the right bank of the Belaya River . Population: -History:...
. Total number of Cherkosogai Armenians is about 50 thousand people (2008 estimation). According to Russian 2002 Census
Russian Census (2002)
Russian Census of 2002 was the first census of the Russian Federation carried out on October 9 through October 16, 2002. It was carried out by the Russian Federal Service of State Statistics .-Resident population:...
230 Armenians speak Adyghe language
Adyghe language
Adyghe language , also known as West Circassian , is one of the two official languages of the Republic of Adygea in the Russian Federation, the other being Russian. It is spoken by various tribes of the Adyghe people: Abzekh, Adamey, Bzhedugh; Hatukuay, Kemirgoy, Makhosh; Natekuay, Shapsigh; Zhane,...
and 222 speak Kabardian language
Kabardian language
The Kabardian language, also known as East Circassian , is a Northwest Caucasian language, closely related to the Adyghe language. It is spoken mainly in the Russian republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia and in Turkey and the Middle East...
as native.
History
Since the early medieval characteristic form of settlement of the Armenian ethnic group becomes the diasporaArmenian diaspora
The Armenian diaspora refers to the Armenian communities outside the Republic of Armenia and self proclaimed de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
. Over time, North Caucasus
North Caucasus
The North Caucasus is the northern part of the Caucasus region between the Black and Caspian Seas and within European Russia. The term is also used as a synonym for the North Caucasus economic region of Russia....
and Transcaucasus becomes an important and sometimes compact center of Armenian settlement. The impetus for the emigration of Armenians from their historical homeland. It was believed that the majority of Armenians emigrated to the Kuban
Kuban
Kuban is a geographic region of Southern Russia surrounding the Kuban River, on the Black Sea between the Don Steppe, Volga Delta and the Caucasus...
in the 15th century from Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
and where finally formed a vassal of Turkish Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate, or Khanate of Crimea , was a state ruled by Crimean Tatars from 1441 to 1783. Its native name was . Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan...
and living conditions prevailing there other Christians (Greeks
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
, Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, Crimean Germans) have deteriorated sharply. According to some sources, 1475, when the Turks
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
finally seized control up to the Genoese of the Catholic and Orthodox Principality of Theodoro
Principality of Theodoro
The Principality of Theodoro , also known as Gothia , was a small principality in the south-west of Crimea from the 13th through 15th centuries. Its capital was Doros, which was also sometimes called Theodoro and is now known as Mangup...
and began to exterminate the civilian population, Armenians began to move actively to the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
and Poland
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
. Some Armenians found refuge among the Circassians and Abkhazians. Armenians settlers, having lived in the mountains for 300 years, picked up the language, manners, customs, particularly of life, the entire way of life of Circassians, among whom they settled, but have retained their ethnic identity and Christian faith - the Armenian Apostolic
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
, close to the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
. As a result of the interpenetration of the two cultures formed a completely new ethnic group of Cherkosogai.